The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, has recognized the enormous responsibility placed on prison officers to reform inmates and maintain tight security across the country’s prisons.
He emphasized that the challenges accompanying this responsibility should not be underestimated, considering the serious crimes associated with convicts.
“The job of keeping inmates safe as a way of protecting them and also reforming them is not a small responsibility” Joseph Nelson said.
Minister Nelson emphasized the importance of the Prisons Service maintaining high standards during his visit to security installations in the region.
He urged officers to prioritize protecting inmates’ lives, reforming them, and safeguarding Ghanaian society from security threats.
The Prisons Service plays a vital role in Ghana’s criminal justice system, contributing to internal security through humane and secure penal reform.
The Service’s key objectives include:
Rehabilitation and Reformation: Providing inmates with skills and education to facilitate their reintegration into society.
Security and Safety: Ensuring the secure custody of inmates and maintaining order within prisons.
Human Rights : Protecting the rights and dignity of inmates, in line with international standards and Ghanaian law.
“Against all the odds, you have flagged some of the challenges you are faced with in discharging your responsibility” he noted.
As Chairman of Regional Security Council (REGSEC) he assured the Service Command of his unflinching support to their operations while urging them to collaborate with all other key stakeholders within the security architecture to deal with crime in the region.
He lauded the Command for being able to handle over one thousand prisoners in the region currently under their control. “These are significant challenges. I believe that you have done well,” he commended.
The main prison at Sekondi-Takoradi, constructed in 1902 by the colonial government currently has Six hundred and twelve (612) inmates.
The Western Region in general currently has one thousand, one hundred and forty-two (1,142) inmates according to the command.
Deputy Director of the Prisons, Abraham Allotey, who briefed the Minister about their operations and challenges, acknowledged strives made over the years to improve service delivery.
“We are doing our best as part of the security apparatus. I can say, so far, so good, we have done our best. We can’t say that everything is luxury, we are doing our best,” he said.
Regarding the traditional role being played by the sector command to improve the lives of prisoners, he said
“We are also trying to reform them in various ways.”
According to the Deputy Director, the Service has been taking inmates through educational training programmes, tailoring, religious affairs, and lately carpentry.
For the carpentry, he said the Service will require necessary working machinery to assist them train the inmates properly.
By Ebenezer Atiemo
